Parrott Academy football preview, notebook

Parrott's football team runs through drills in practice earlier this season.

Sara Pezzoni / The Free Press

By Justin Hill / Correspondent

Published: Thursday, August 21, 2014 at 11:01 PM.

Over the past 15 years, Arendell Parrott Academy has been to the NCISAA 8-man championship game four times, the latest in 2011. And during that same period, as one of the most consistent teams year-in and year-out, the Patriots have yet to bring home a banner.

The Patriots remain one of just 10 schools in the state to play 8-man football. Although three less men is an obvious difference, in North Carolina, the width of the field is also reduced by 40-yards.

However, with six less players, even on a tighter field it tends to open the game up to much more scoring.

Parrott has traditionally run an up-tempo, no-huddle offense and coach Matt Beaman plans to continue that style of play.

“We want to play fast,” he said. “Last year, I wasn’t able to play as fast as I would’ve liked because of our depth issue. We’ve got more players this year and more players playing one-way.”

With 23 players on the roster, Beaman plans to only use two players (senior transfer Adam Williams and sophomore Cole Daniels) both ways.

Over the past 15 years, Arendell Parrott Academy has been to the NCISAA 8-man championship game four times, the latest in 2011. And during that same period, as one of the most consistent teams year-in and year-out, the Patriots have yet to bring home a banner.

The Patriots remain one of just 10 schools in the state to play 8-man football. Although three less men is an obvious difference, in North Carolina, the width of the field is also reduced by 40-yards.

However, with six less players, even on a tighter field it tends to open the game up to much more scoring.

Parrott has traditionally run an up-tempo, no-huddle offense and coach Matt Beaman plans to continue that style of play.

“We want to play fast,” he said. “Last year, I wasn’t able to play as fast as I would’ve liked because of our depth issue. We’ve got more players this year and more players playing one-way.”

With 23 players on the roster, Beaman plans to only use two players (senior transfer Adam Williams and sophomore Cole Daniels) both ways.

Defensively the Patriots will utilize 4-2 and 3-4 defenses.

A focus of that defense will be senior Keywan Morgan, who transferred to APA over the summer. Beaman called him a game changer.

“He’s going to be playing defensive tackle and middle linebacker … and when we go to our I-formation he’s going to play fullback for us,” he said.

Morgan said getting acclimated to the 8-man game has been an adjustment. Listed at 5-foot 10 and 262 pounds on several football recruiting sites, Morgan admits he may have grown an inch or two taller.

“It’s been difficult adjusting, you’re playing with less players, and there’s more field to cover,” he said. “I had to get in shape to keep up.”

Beaman also said outside linebacker Zack Hill may also turn some heads this season.

“He may not have been the guy in the paper a lot last year, but he’s a guy who could have a huge impact,” Beaman said.

Hill, who is a senior, said the defense must focus on the amount of space on the field — once a player turns the corner, it’s often too late.

“Playing outside linebacker you don’t always make the tackle, but you have to make the key play so someone else can make it,” he said.

As this season kicks off, expectations are high around the APA campus for major varsity sports after a pair of big hires over the summer. If those anticipations carry over to football will only be known once the season kicks off.

“The expectations are pretty high this year,” said Beaman, who is in his third year at the helm of the Patriots. “I’m not going to put a win total on it, but we’re expecting a lot from this team. I like this team’s makeup and the way they work.”

He cautioned that even with the optimism of the preseason, it’s impossible to tell until game day.

“(Until) the pads get strapped up and the lights come on, I don’t know what we’re going to have yet.” he added. “Last year’s team, I thought we over achieved. Those were guys who just came out and gave it everything they had.

“This team is going to have the talent to stack up with most of the top teams in the conference, and if they come out and play like I think they will, I think we can make a run at it.”

Parrott Football Notebook

Roll Tide

2013 Parrott grad Nate Staskelunas originally agreed to walk on at North Carolina State, but a change of heart sent him south to play at the University of Alabama. The 6-foot 3 defensive back will be a sophomore on Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide squad this year.

Hamlet’s Act 2

Both Wells Gulledge and George Whitfield made waves when they were announced as Parrott’s new basketball and baseball coaches, respectively, earlier this year, and they will also serve as assistants this season for the football team. Gulledge will coach receivers and defensive backs and Whitfield is working with the offensive and defensive lines. While both coaches are well known around Kinston for their multiple state championships, neither are Lenoir County natives. Both Gulledge and Whitfield are from a city of less than 6,500 in Richmond County — Hamlet.

A third new face

Dory Hines may be best known for his prowess on the court as a standout point guard for both the Kinston High School and the University of Mount Olive’s basketball teams. The recent UMO graduate, who is spending the year student-teaching at Parrott, was also the 2009 Eastern Plains 2A Offensive Player of the Year as a quarterback for Kinston. He is coaching the quarterbacks for APA.

No slouch in charge

While Gulledge (three NCHSAA basketball championships), Whitfield (eight American Legion and NCHSAA baseball championships) and Hines (two NCHSAA basketball championships) have a handful of rings, head coach Matt Beaman has hardware of his own, winning back-to-back softball championships for Parrott in 2011 and 2012.

Multi-sport athletes

With eight varsity boys sports, six being played in either the winter or spring, it’s no surprise that football isn’t the only sport Beaman expects his students to play. Of the 23 players on the roster, at least 20 of them are expected to play another sport this school year.

Two-way players

Since only eight men are on the field at any given time, Beaman doesn’t need huge numbers to keep from having to use his players on both sides of the ball. His preseason plan is to use only senior-transfer Adam Williams and sophomore Cole Daniels both ways with the first team. Williams will play defensive end and Daniels will play middle linebacker on defense. They will both play guard on the offensive side.